New Atlanta Restaurants We’re Excited to Try!

There’s nothing I like less than to hear, “So … where do you want to eat?” I love to dine out obvi, but I HATE choosing the restaurant. Seriously, it’s a major pet peeve since I’m the absolute worst at choosing* somewhere to new to eat.

However, see that big ol’ asterisk above? That sucker’s there because, though I intrinsically avoid choosing the cool eatery in my circle, I’m also an Atlanta-based writer who is privy to the juiciest news and announcements about fantastic, delicious restaurants set to open. That way I get to write about tasty restaurants, and my friends — including you guys, the loyal StyleBlueprinters — have an easy, researched way to find out which new dining spot to try. That being said, here are seven new Atlanta restaurant openings to add to your to-dine list!

7 New Atlanta Restaurants for Winter 2017

I have to include Das BBQ at the beginning of this article because I live about four blocks away and have been waiting for them to open their doors since I saw the construction get underway months ago. Eating aside, I literally roll my windows down every time I drive by Das BBQ on Collier Road to get a whiff of sweet wood smoke and grilled meat.

Das BBQ opened at the very end of last year and is set to serve Georgia barbecue to the in-town masses. Diners can order beef brisket, pulled pork, sausage and ribs as a sandwich, entrée or heaping by the pound. Paired with the smoked meats (cooked on two massive smokers that you can tour when dining in), the restaurant has Das Sauces (yellow peach or espresso powered) to smother/dip/drink as a side dish. Speaking of true side dishes, order a few to share among your group (macaroni and cheese, cream corn and collard greens are our top three).

Diners can order beef brisket, pulled pork, sausage and ribs as a sandwich, entrée or heaping by the pound. Image: Das BBQ

Again, a new restaurant article shouldn’t be about the writer … BUT I, like so many Atlantans, have loved the Yumbii food truck for years, and now their first brick and mortar location opened just a few minutes away in Midtown (so much more convenient than stalking their food truck schedule)! Many of you will know Yumbii’s awesome fusion of Mexican and Asian food from their truck that rolls throughout Atlanta’s best neighborhoods as well as cool local festivals. And though the Yumbii food truck still serves classic favorites like their fish tacos and to-die-for sesame fries, hungry diners can now get this food whenever they like by heading to the restaurant.

Yumbii has a permanent home in Midtown at its new brick and mortar location. Their food truck still wanders through Atlanta, serving hungry visitors on the go. Image: Yumbii

Yumbii’s offerings, like these quesadillas, are filling, delicious and too good to describe. Image: Yumbii

Here’s the Yumbii gist: Choose a protein like Asian ribeye beef, spicy pulled pork, chicken or tofu, then have it added to four amazingly delicious portions. For example, add your protein to the taco, that also comes with Yumbii Korean barbecue sauce and soy-sesame vinaigrette salad, or select the burrito and the protein of your choice comes wrapped with rice, black bean corn salsa, cheese and the vinaigrette salad and barbecue sauce the food staple has become known for. By the way, make sure not to leave Yumbii without trying the fish taco — panko-crusted tilapia topped with hoisin-tartar sauce and the brand’s staples — and Yumbii nachos (protein choice atop chips, smothered with Sriracha queso, cucumber kimchee, chipotle sour cream and other awesome toppings).

The Federal is a perfect union of cool location (the name pays homage to the Federal Reserve Bank, Midtown’s nearby landmark), talented chefs (Shaun Doty and Lance Gummere of Bantam + Biddy) and fantastic fare (global flavors mixed with a combo of French cuisine and American steakhouse). The Federal opened late last year and offers a variety of menus for every day of the week. Those who work in the area can get a gourmet espresso drink paired with breakfast items like the avocado toast served with smoked trout and soft-boiled egg or the brisket skillet hash.

The Federal describes itself as a “pocket-sized bistro” that serves a melding of flavors and ingredients from the inspired travels from the restaurant’s chefs and owners. Image: The Federal

Dinner is where it’s at if you want to sink your teeth into a juicy steak at The Federal. Obviously the massive cast iron cooked steaks are perfection, but diners can also enjoy entrées like Whole Loup de Mer (featuring chickpea pancake, fennel, olives, saffron yogurt and bee pollen) and Pork Schnitzel. Sides and appetizers like the Oxtail French Onion Soup and the Chopped Chicken Liver have also earned a reputation as must-try menu items.

The Halal Guys comes from humble beginnings — what was once a New York hot dog cart has become an international restaurant chain serving basic, delicious Middle Eastern-meets-Mediterranean street food. And now Chamblee shares in the tradition by hosting this restaurant and their nationally renowned offerings. The halal-certified menu is simple: chicken, gyro or falafel, served as either a platter or sandwich with toppings and your choice of famous hot or white sauces. And if you love pita so much you’d like to use it as a little pillow, you can also get it as a side with some hummus or tahini.

Though this might be street food, The Halal Guys’ well thought-out menu and perfectly seasoned choices make it a must visit in Chamblee. Image: The Halal Guys

One of the newest places to enjoy modern Indian-American cuisine is Inman Park’s Amara. The restaurant flips traditional Indian food upside down by offering a modern menu that fuses the best of that region with an American undertone. For example, besides the chutney tasting and peanut chaat diners can order as a snack, there are also shishito peppers to try; the menu’s tandoor section has unexpected offerings like octopus, quail or masala prawn among others. And though you may not find pig ears or beef cheeks at traditional Indian restaurants, Amara creates its own fusion-inspired menu that will delight anyone looking for a warm, flavorful meal.

Not only is Amara’s beet salad delicious, it’s gorgeous as well. The lovely starter features chevre and coriander crème fraîche. Image: Amara

Amara’s mango salad is a flavorful start to any meal, served with a candied mango vinaigrette and topped with mint and spicy cashews. Image: Amara

“Fast casual” and “healthy” aren’t two adjectives that usually go together when describing a choice new restaurant, but Wildleaf finds the harmony. This new salad concept, located inside Buckhead’s Terminus 100 building, offers a seasonally based menu of salads, bowls, wraps and soups as well as smoothies, juices and frozen yogurt.

I love a good salad, and you can’t go wrong with any of the restaurant’s original Wildleaf Creations, which include Catalan (kale, Medjool dates, almonds) and Central Valley (greens, goat cheese, beets). Or you can create your own personalized salad with an ingredient list bursting with fresh produce. Make sure to finish that healthy salad or soup with a cup of fro-yo made in-house at Wildleaf or one of their tasty, good-for-you smoothies (I like coconut mango turmeric).

As if you needed another delicious dining spot in Old Fourth Ward, here comes Cast Iron to cast its magical spell over diners from across Atlanta. Cast Iron isn’t fancy or snooty — it’s a neighborhood eatery serving wonderful food and some kickass drinks. Case in point? All of the signature cocktails are a must-try, but I’m going with their Linus & Lucy as my adopted winter drink that helped me survive the holiday party season — a concoction featuring bourbon, dry curaçao and cocoa-infused honey.

There’s a little bit of everything on the menu, from duck confit with waffle chips and pickled onion cream, to a massive house burger served, of course, with a “burger salad.” Personally, I was giddy looking at the brunch menu to see roasted vegetable shakshuka, a Middle Eastern delicacy, served with a Southern twist (in the form of a fennel buttermilk biscuit). Cast Iron doesn’t take itself too seriously but your taste buds will seriously thank you for letting them experience Cast Iron’s wonderful food.

Though this is a story of hot new restaurants opening around Atlanta, we also wanted to say goodbye to one of our faves, Spice to Table. Asha Gomez, a former StyleBlueprint FACE, created an imaginative menu at her Indian patisserie. But this isn’t the last of Asha — as one door closes, her new lifestyle brand, DYAD Tea & Spice is about to open. The tea service and spice blend will be served in restaurants, hopefully by this summer.

Updated Summer 2016

Atlanta is a food lover’s town — as one restaurant closes its doors, three more open theirs. In the last few months, we’ve been lucky (as have our stomachs) to welcome many delicious places to stuff our faces and enjoy the ambience of some truly wonderful restaurants. Here are just a few new restaurants in Atlanta already getting major buzz …

Richards’ Southern Fried comes from famed Atlanta chef Todd Richards — and his chicken recipe lives up to all the hype! Located within Krog Street Market, the food stop’s menu is pretty self-explanatory: Choose your cut and amount of chicken (leg and thigh, breast and wing, 1/2 chicken or whole wings) in whatever level of heat you desire (classic, hot, Richards’ hot) and select some delicious sides like potato wedges, tomato and cucumber salad — and many more.

Order at the counter, dine in at Krog Street or take it home and enter fried chicken heaven with every delectable bite you take, thanks to Chef Richards himself!

Besides pieces of chicken, customers also can order the Hot Chicken Sandwich, which comes with pimento cheese, chow chow and lettuce. Image: Henri Hollis

As we mentioned in our Cinnaholic feature earlier this month, we love cinnamon rolls. And VEGAN cinnamon rolls are just icing on the already delicious … roll? This vegan bakeshop that sells other pastries besides cinnamon rolls, is a made-to-order, gourmet bakery, where diners can customize their own cinnamon rolls. Try peanut butter frosting with blackberry topping, or perhaps marshmallow frosting paired with graham cracker topping. The list is endless when it comes to creating your delicious concoction.

The s’mores cinnamon roll from Cinnaholic is sweet, marshmallow-y and totally delicious.

This Asheville-based restaurant opened the doors to its newest location in Sandy Springs earlier this summer. The Atlanta location stays true to its Southern roots by serving unique takes on regional staples like Pimento Cheese Nachos, County Fair Avocado, Shoo Mercy Shrimp & Grits, Appalachian Egg Rolls — and don’t even get us started on the Glamping S’mores Cake (molten chocolate cake with toasted marshmallows, raspberries, graham crackers and a whole lot of yumminess).

And here’s a really cool fact about Tupelo Honey Café: If you want to try and recreate one of the delicious items you eat at the restaurant, check out their website. There are loads of recipes straight from the Tupelo chefs that you can make in your kitchen … although you will have to do the dishes, unlike dining at the restaurant.

Decatur is a foodie paradise with tons of independent restaurants, bars and chefs serving some of the best dishes in the city. One of our new faves is Brush Sushi Izakaya, a self-described “Japanese gastro pub” with finely crafted sushi, authentic skewers (Yakitori) for the charcoal grill and tasty specialties like Kushikatsu (breaded, deep-fried skewered meats and vegetables). Besides all the great flavors, it’s nice to know that the restaurant serves high-quality, locally sourced ingredients (or those that come directly from Japan).

Choosing a restaurant is one of my least favorite things in this entire world. I love eating out, don’t get me wrong, but I hate figuring out where to go. And it becomes even more difficult when you have people who have certain eating restrictions: This one can’t eat raw fish, that one doesn’t eat red meat, blah, blah, blah. So thank goodness the good people from The Cowfish decided to open a restaurant in Dunwoody. This unique establishment serves the very best sushi AND burgers. If you like good ol’ American hamburgers, order The C.B.C.L.T. (burger, cheddar cheese, applewood bacon, white cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and Cowfish sauce) or Granny’s Southern Pimento Cheeseburger (burger with house-made pimento cheese, fried green tomato, etc.). Prefer a Japanese-inspired meal? Get traditional rolls like yellowtail, eel or sweet shrimp. Or better yet, go for the fusion “Burgushi” menu with items like The Deliverance Roll (pulled pork, BBQ sauce wrapped in soy paper with fixins) or the Turfin’ Surfer Roll (tuna, tempura flakes —topped with scallops, seared rare filet mignon, eel sauce and more). Cowfish is fusion at its best and your taste buds will question — then love — the experience!

Chef Linton Hopkins is one of Atlanta’s culinary kings and his new restaurant is a treat for all the senses. Located inside Atlanta Botanical Gardens (ABG), Longleaf is a bright, airy space that really reminds you of where you are — as massive windows and a rooftop terrace take full of advantage of ABG’s lush landscaping and wonderful views. But let’s get on to the food … the garden-to-table dining can be appreciated with the fresh ingredients, colorful plating and inspired offerings. The heirloom tomato salad is light, wholesome and puts a smile on your face; and we’re not sure if the delicious blackened cabbage dish came straight from ABG but it sure tastes just that fresh when manipulated by the talented chefs at Longleaf.

The charcuterie platter at Linton’s in the Garden is fully stocked with some of the tastiest items you’ve ever had. And don’t get us started on the rest of the menu!

City Winery, which just opened at Ponce City Market, is a cool hybrid winery/restaurant/music venue that also offers space for private events. Having originally opened its first location in New York City, City Winery has something for everyone — but we’re focusing on the food angle since this is a new restaurant article. The cuisine follows a Mediterranean style and, obviously, the wine list is huge. You can eat in City Winery’s dining room without tickets to a show and by simply making a reservation. If you do have tickets for a show, the seats are yours for the whole night, so you don’t need to make a dining reservation.

It’s all about dinner and a show at City Winery and upcoming music acts include The Bacon Brothers, Del McCoury Band and Wasabassco Burlesque, to name a few (check the calendar for scheduled concerts and ticketing information).

Inman Quarter gets a new foodie attraction in the form of Hampton + Hudson, a “community bar and restaurant.” The massive bar and laid-back vibe makes it the perfect place to meet up with friends, enjoy the neighborhood and, of course, down a few adult beverages (one of the many pints or perhaps a cocktail like the Petraske 42, made with cachaça, ancho reyes, lime, curaçao, lavender, and topped with salt and pepper). Everything on the menu is good but we especially like the Hangover Fries (obviously), as well as the cauliflower steak (hold the meat for this vegan dish).

Besides all the great food, Hampton + Hudson has some fabulous cocktails on the menu. The Upper East Side and Petraske 42 (pictured here) are two of our favorites. Image: Hampton + Hudson

Keep an eye out because we’ll be checking in on the latest and greatest restaurants throughout Atlanta — and sharing the news with you!

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